Danny Ainge has earned the nickname "Trader Danny." He is the biggest risk taker in professional sports management.
His latest risk is trading MVP contender Isaiah Thomas, starter Jae Crowder, young prospect Ante Zizic and a likely top 5 pick for Kyrie Irving. Reviews of the trade are mixed so far. In time, like most Ainge trades, I imagine it will be looked at as a win. But we certainly cannot pass judgment on the trade yet.
We can pass judgment on Ainge's past trade history, where he has had a number of easy wins.
8. Took on Marcus Thornton's contract for Tyler Zeller and a Cleveland first round pick
The Celtics used Paul Pierce's trade exception from the Brooklyn Nets deal to take on Marcus Thornton's contract. This allowed Cleveland to sign Lebron James. For their troubles in this three team trade, Cleveland gave Boston Tyler Zeller and their own first round pick.
Tyler Zeller played three productive seasons for the Celtics. He was a small part of their return to relevancy, allowing the Celtics to recruit new players. The bigger part of the deal is the pick. It turns into something special later.
This is one of the few deals that worked out for all teams. Cleveland got their championship, the Nets unloaded a bad contract and the Celtics got a productive player and a pick.
7. Traded Mike James and Chris Mills for Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter and a first draft pick (Tony Allen)
Tony Allen is a great example of Ainge's ability to make mid round draft picks. When Kobe Bryant went on his retirement tour, he signed his shoes "best defender I ever faced," and gave them to Allen.
Allen came off the bench to guard Bryant in the 2008 and 2010 Finals.
He was a big reason they won the 2008 Title and a big reason they came 7:00 minutes away from winning the 2010 one. It took until he signed with the Memphis Grizzlies until he was recognized for his defensive contributions. He went on to make the All-Defensive team 6 years in a row.
6.Traded Dwight Powell and Rajon Rondo for Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, a first and second round draft pick
Rondo sunk the Mavs' season and was even benched during the playoffs because of infighting with head coach Rick Carlisle. Dwight Powell is a productive yet not spectacular player.
Jae Crowder played two and a half seasons as an above average starter for the Celtics. He helped them rebuild a winning brand of Celtics' basketball. The team looked like a high lottery team before trading for Crowder and Isaiah Thomas. The team ended up barely missing the playoffs before making the Eastern Conference Finals two years later.
Crowder was also part of the package for Kyrie Irving.
5. Traded Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and a Second Round Pick for Ray Allen
Jeff Green and Delonte West went on to have productive careers. Szczerbiak was at the end of his rope and out of the league after two years.
Allen joined the new Big Three era and helped the Celtics win a championship, go to another and make multiple playoff runs. He retired the NBA's leader in career 3 pointers.
4. Moved up in the draft to get Rajon Rondo
The Celtics took on Brian Grant's contract in order to move up three spots in the draft to nab Rajon Rondo.
Rondo started on the championship team, played 8 productive seasons, 4 All Star games, 6 All League, led the league in assists twice and led the league in steals once.
The Suns took Rudy Fernandez, who didn't survive the NBA past his rookie contract.
3. Traded Marcus Thornton and Cleveland Pick (Skal Labissiere) for Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas had two All Star seasons with the Celtics and finished 5th in MVP voting last year. He also was part of the package traded for Kyrie Irving. The jury is still out on the Irving trade, it already returned a guilty verdict for grand larceny in the deal for Isaiah Thomas.
Skal Labissiere seems a decent youngster, but he's not going to turn into an MVP candidate.
2. Traded Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and D.J. White for 3 First Round Picks and a Pick Swap
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were entering the tail end of their careers.
Jason Terry was a decent 6th man for the Celtics the year before, but his play suffered for the Nets.
Brooklyn snuck into the playoffs with 44 wins before KG and Pierce left, leaving the Nets with nothing.
The Celtics ended up selecting James Young and Jaylen Brown with two of the picks. Young ended up a bust, but Brown is a high prospect.
The 2017 pick was traded for the third overall pick, Jayson Tatum, and another likely high draft pick.
Most significantly, the 2018 pick was traded as part of a package for Kyrie Irving, a 4 Time All Star and NBA and Olympic champion.
1.Traded Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and 2 first round picks for Kevin Garnett
Al Jefferson for Kevin Garnett was the centerpiece of this trade.
Jefferson went on to have two 20 and 10 seasons for Minnesota before leaving after the third season.
Green and Telfair were well regarded youngsters. Both went on to have long, productive careers.
The 2 first round picks turned into Wayne Ellington and Jonny Flynn. Ellington is still a productive player in the league but Flynn only survived his rookie contract.
Losing Jefferson hurt a bit, but the rest of the players did not amount to anything great.
Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett led the Celtics to one title win and many other runs. He won Defensive Player of the Year his first season with the Celtics.
